The History Department, of the Royal Military College of Canada will be hosting its annual Military History Symposium November 3rd and 4th 2017. The main theme of this bilingual symposium is L’histoire du maintien de la paix: Nouvelles perspectives / History of Peacekeeping: New Perspectives. Only sixty years ago Canadians in their “blue helmets” were at the forefront of one of the first UN peacekeeping missions to resolve the Suez crisis; an enterprise that won its sponsor Lester B. Pearson the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957. Since that time peacekeeping has undergone great changes both in Canada and worldwide. New historical studies are beginning to focus on this changing history and perspectives regarding peacekeeping’s origins, chronology, as well as its successes and failures. Current challenges to peacekeeping must lead us to rethink the place of peacekeeping in the military and political history of Canada and other nations in this distinct military and diplomatic endeavour.

The organizing committee solicits proposals from researchers and graduate students for both individual presentations or panel sessions on the following aspects:

– Various peacekeeping missions

– The role of Non-Governmental Organizations in peacekeeping and peace support missions

– Leadership of peacekeeping missions

– Peacekeeping and Diplomacy

– Military training/Doctrine of peacekeeping

– Peacekeeping and strategy

– Public opinion and cultural representation of peacekeeping

– Technology and peacekeeping

or any other topic related to the principal theme.

Preference will be given to historical studies highlighting new perspectives or new fields of study. Proposals in French or English should include a 200 or 300 word abstract accompanied by a one-page cv should be sent to Dr Magali Deleuze (magali.deleuze@rmc.ca) or Dr Howard Coombs (howard.coombs@rmc.ca) no later than November 26, 2016. For more information, please contact Dr. Deleuze or Dr. Coombs.